Absence seizures in a child at school

[MicDoyle]

Hi everyone, I recently posted that my 11 year old has been diagnosed with epilepsy. She is now going to be starting school as a Year 7 in September.
I have noticed that she has been having regular absence seizures. She cannot hear what we are saying.

The school is quite strict. I dont want her to get into trouble. They know she has a diagnosis of epilepsy but some teachers may not have knowledge of petit mal/absence seizures.

Should I just write it up and give it to the school or is there another strategy I am missing. I am waiting for results from her EEG that she did 2 weeks ago.

Sorry if the solution seems obvious ie just let the school know...I just dont want to miss any other strategy that parents have used for their kids.

Thanks in advance

Just let the school know.

they should have a system whereby teachers are given short summaries of relevant medical info and Sen needs,

if she winds up in trouble because of the seizures email the Senco they can usually sort it out

My kids school has a Pupil Passport system which has important information such as medical needs or SEN readily available to every teacher.
You should definitely tell the school: it will be helpful to both teachers and child.

You could try asking Young Epilepsy, who have a helpline:

https://share.google/ntgqC1aNVlASVfnXp

I’d expect the school to draw up a care plan with the epilepsy nurse, if you have one, on what to do in the event of DD, having the seizure types, she has.

Does DD have an emergency protocol - or does her epilepsy never go beyond absences?

Contact the school and they’ll have a medical plan that they put in place. My daughter has RAS and although has been fortunate that so far hasn’t had a seizure in secondary school, she has a medical card that she can keep in her pencil case or on her desk so any teacher is aware. They also update medical details regularly.

Hi OP, In terms of secondary school the more information the better! I was a Sendco and did in person staff briefings weekly plus follow up emails about this sort of information.
I would say around 50% of the teachers and 90% of my TAs and 100% of the senior staff actually took the information on board after being given it two or three times.
Part of the issue with absence spells is that they look a lot like normal inattention or day dreaming sometimes. I think if you lead with epilepsy thats a good way to get everyone to concentrate as staff do have training and awareness of this already.
I have to say though the most effective way to communicate this is from your daughter directly to her teachers. This pretty much always impressed teachers in my experience and promotes a good relationship in the classroom. Of course it a horrifying thought for many new year 7s, luckily I had a deputy head girl with SEND who used to help the younger ones learn how to speak to teachers!
Good luck and get the email addresses of the send administrator as well as the sendco and the medical admin person.

Let the school know, and ask them what their strategy is for making sure all her teachers know. They will have a number of children who will have an illness or disability that will affect them in all lessons, and should have a clear plan for letting all the teachers know. Good luck to your daughter.

Thank you so much everyone. She is such a sweet girl and my maternal instincts are raging!

Its so useful to read these responses.

@LathkillDale Yes she has tonic clonic seizures. My concern is that those are obvious, whereas the absence seizures look like she is day dreaming when she is not. Thanks

I would ask the school to make an information card card for her planner so she can show staff especially if she has a cover or external supply. I have done this with students with hidden disabilities and they really like it. I make them in chat gpt.

EG
My name is Rosie
I have epilepsy with absence and TC seizures.

During an absences seizures I will eg stare into space and won’t be able to hear you. If this happens….
During Tonic clinic seizures I will…If this happens please…

Anytime she had a new teachers she can show them this.

also a medic alert bracelet. There’s some nice silicone ones now

I have found lay people are more likely to panic at tonic clonics, and offer to call an ambulance, when there’s no sign as yet, that it’s necessary per the emergency protocol!

I would also ask that here photo is shown to staff on the training days in September and that the health care plan is in place and that staff know what to do. It will be on the MIS but not obvious and relies on teachers actively looking for it. So whilst legally compliant it is a crap way of circulating information. Slightly better is a SEND IEP but that depends how good the Sendco is at getting them done and staff reading them and acting upon it.

It's really important for her science teachers to be told and for any other subjects like DT, food, etc. which could pose as a big risk if she were to have a seizure during a lesson. Science might involve dealing with corrosive chemicals, test tubes and bunsen burners. Plus, at least at my school, they had hard floors and we sat on stools at tall wooden desks. Not something to take risks with.

My son is 12 and was diagnosed last year. The epilepsy team contacted the school nurse and a care plan was put in place with advice on the condition so all teachers are aware. His includes things like, extra awareness in cooking class when using hot pans etc and also, no climbing at height in PE

They need to know about the petty mal seizures. I had a friend at school who had them and everyone knew what to expect and what not to do if she had one.

I work in a school and we have regular training for this. That’s your first question to the school I think.